Howden claims sprint double

Sprinter Alex Howden was a dual winner as Wairarapa athletes starred at the Central track and field championships in Palmerston North last weekend.

Howden took the men's 17 years 100m and 200m titles, the 100m in 11.60s and the 200m in 23.16s.

It was the continuation of an excellent run of form by the Makoura College pupil who is ranked fifth for the 100m in his age group in the country with a best time of 11.36s, which was recorded into a head wind. The four ranked above Howden registered their times with the wind in their favour.

Coach Mark Harris believes Howden, a relative newcomer to serious competition, has plenty of untapped potential.

"He very definitely is still a work in progress, there's a lot of improvement to come yet," he said.

Another of the region's top sprinters, April Campbell, also impressed at Palmerston North, placing third in the women's 20 years 100m in 13.40s and winning the 100m hurdles in 16.83s.

The men's 17 years 400m saw Wairarapa athletes grab the first three placings, Edward Hewitt winning in 53.32s from Tom Quinn (54.58s) and Dhruv Raman (55.12s).

There was success in the 800m, too, with Molly Creagh taking out the women's 20 years title in 2m 23.06s and Tessa Laven the women's 17 years division in 2m 27.10s.

It was Tim Girling-McLean who led the way for Wairarapa in the field events, winning the men's 17 years shot put with a distance of 19.67m and the discus with a throw of 41.09s.

Tom Quinn placed second in the discus with a distance of 27.38m.

The Peseta brothers, Jerry and Dennis, were first and second respectively in the men's 20 years discus with throws of 37.83m and 32.71m and they finished in the same order in the men's 20 years hammer throw, Jerry winning with 39.97m and Dennis second with 29.92m.

Tom Quinn won the men's 17 years hammer throw with a throw of 23.72m and his sister, Grace Quinn, was second in the women's 17 years division with 21.57m.

Wairarapa's burgeoning athletics talent was also on display at Makoura College yesterday when the annual inter-collegiate track and field meet was held there. A hectic programme of events were scheduled with all colleges in the district well represented.